Academic literature on the topic 'Cats and kittens-juvenile literature'

Data on body weight of pure-bred kittens (Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Birman, Persian, Siamese/Oriental Shorthair Cat) from birth (n 245) to 12 weeks of age (n 135) were obtained from breeders. Absolute birth weight (in g) was higher in larger breeds than in smaller breeds, whereas relative birth weight (in % of mature female weight) tended to be higher in smaller breeds (Maine Coon 115 g, 2·3 %; Norwegian Forest Cat 106 g, 2·7 %; Birman 97 g, 2·8 %; Siamese 92 g, 2·8 %; Persian 82 g, 3·2 %). Relative birth weight was lower than that described in the literature for colony cats. Relative litter weight was highest in Norwegian Forest Cats (14·6 (sd 1·8) %; n 10) and lowest in Birmans (8·8 (sd 3·1) %, n 7; P < 0·05); the other breeds were in-between (11·9 (sd 2·0) %; n 19). Absolute growth was faster in larger breeds than in smaller breeds. In relation to expected mature weight, there was good agreement with data from colony cats but no clear-cut effect of breed size. There appeared to be a trend to an earlier onset of sexual dimorphism in larger breeds.

The materials of the presented research cover the issues of the spread of cestodes of cats in the Solomyansky district of Kyiv (according to the veterinary clinic Vet Alliance). After analyzing the relevant scientific literature, the epizootic situation of dipilidiosis and mesocestoidosis of cats in the metropolis was analyzed. Studies have shown that more than 50 % of parasitic diseases in cats occur in associated forms, among which the most common are toxocariasis, dipilidiosis, mesocestoidosis, ktenocephalidosis (flea infestation) and otodectosis. The monoform of invasions occurred only in 14.7 % of registered cases. The spread of diplidiosis and mesocestoidosis was characterized by seasonality – the peak of the lesion cats were observed in September-October. The most susceptible to infection Dipylidium caninum and Mesocestoides lineatus were kittens under the age of six months. The clinical condition and hematological parameters of kittens with dipilidiosis were also studied. Depression, anemia of the conjunctiva and mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, indigestion, dry cough were found. All cats had dull fur, and numerous dark brown spots and live fleas were observed on the skin, especially in the lumbar region. These data indicate a violation of erythropoiesis in feline dipilidiosis, which was characterized by erythrocytopenia and leukocytosis. Significant eosinophilia, an increase in the number of rod-shaped, and a decrease in segmental neutrophils were also found compared with clinically healthy animals. The results of biochemical blood tests of sick cats were important to clarify the features of the pathogenesis of dipilidiosis. Changes in blood biochemical parameters were characterized by a probably reduced content of hemoglobin, total protein and albumin. This indicates not only a violation of erythropoiesis, but also a violation of the protein-synthesizing function of the liver, because the pathological process involves various organs and systems of the body. Key words: feline dipilidiosis, feline mesocestoidosis, prevalence, clinical condition, hematological parameters, pulse rate, mucosal anemia, indigestion.

Abstract Bartonella henselae is implicated as the main etiologic agent of Cat scratch disease (CSD, Cat-scratch fever). A majority of domestic cats may harbor the intra-erythrocytic agent for extended periods without apparent disease. In humans, B. henselae most commonly results in a subacute, bacterial infection that presents with one or more reddish papules which may progress to pustules and regional lymph node enlargement. Usual features include fever, malaise, and a granulomatous lymphadenitis on biopsy. However, atypical clinical presentations occur, albeit with infrequence, and may result in a difficult and protracted diagnostic process. The infection in susceptible hosts such as immunocompromised or elderly patients may result in endocarditis, encephalitis, fever of unknown origin, and general malaise. It is not transmitted from person to person and quarantine is not necessary. The arthropod vector, Ctenocephalides felis, or the cat flea, plays a major role in transmission among cats and to humans. The transmission risk to humans can be substantially reduced through elimination of flea infestations in companion animals. There are numerous recent reviews and case reports in the veterinary and medical literature reflecting increased recognition of this zoonotic agent. All this notwithstanding, many physicians and other providers may not be familiar with this agent and the potential spectrum of human disease; this may lead to delays in diagnosis and unnecessary diagnostic procedures. This article emphasizes the aspects of B. henselae infection, including a typical case report and a table with selected human case reports of unusual clinical manifestations from the published literature.

The recently published article, ‘A Case of Letting the Cat out of the Bag—Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (Felis catus) Management,’ by Crawford et al. warrants rebuttal. The case presented in the paper, opposing the initiation of TNR trials in Australia, ignores peer-reviewed evidence which substantiates the effectiveness of TNR at reducing unowned urban cat numbers. In addition, the paper’s authors offer a number of unrealistic recommendations, which are little more than a rebranding of the failed status quo. Urban stray cats have long been considered a problem across Australia. Current practice calls for the trapping and killing of thousands of healthy urban stray cats and kittens each year with no apparent effect on the total population. In contrast, the literature offers numerous examples, including two recent studies in Australia, of reductions in urban stray cat numbers where TNR has been implemented. TNR has also been associated with reduced feline intake and euthanasia at shelters, which improves both animal welfare and the well-being of shelter staff. A large-scale trial of TNR in an urban Australian context is scientifically justified and long overdue.

Practical relevance: Periarticular stifle fractures are uncommon but challenging injuries to treat. There may be concurrent damage to the ligaments and stabilising structures of the stifle joint itself, which should also be evaluated (see Part 1 of this article series). Improved knowledge of the fixation options and biomechanical challenges of these injuries will aid clinical decision-making and effective repair. Clinical challenges: Due to their nature, periarticular fractures may have small juxta-articular fragments, which require additional thought to address during stabilisation. In juvenile animals, these fractures typically involve the physis and often can be managed with cross pin fixation. In adult cats, locking fixation, specialised plates or external skeletal fixators can be utilised to address the juxta-articular fragments. Readers should also be aware of patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome (PADS), where cats develop insufficiency fractures affecting the patella and proximal tibia. A careful oral examination should be performed in affected patients, as these cats may have persistent deciduous teeth. Close attention should be paid to preoperative radiographs for evidence of chronicity of the injury including sclerosis of the patella, remodelling and blunting of the fracture lines. Aims: The aims of the article are to review the current literature surrounding periarticular fractures of the stifle joint and to summarise the diagnosis, treatment, outcome and complications of each fracture type. As well as discussing general fracture fixation and biomechanical principles applicable to both dogs and cats, information is provided on specific issues facing cats, such as PADS. Evidence base: Published data is limited, with reports including only a small number of cats. The information and recommendations in this article have therefore been drawn from a combination of the available literature and the authors’ clinical experience.

Jakarta is often, if not regularly, being hit by a natural disaster in a form of floods. Floods have affected not only human but also domestic animals like cats, chickens, and pigeons, especially in Kampung Pulo. There are not many films out there that show the struggles and sufferings of animals during floods which is why author and team decided to make an animated film about it titled “Hanyut”; how are their conditions; how can they survive the events. In the scope of the film preproduction, author decided to focus on character design which is designing the cat family characters in the 2D animation film “Hanyut”. The designs will be limited on character designs for the cat family that consists of the mother cat and her two kittens. Although anthropomorphic, these cat characters can not talk and walk on 4 feet (quadrupedal), but have similar personalities and emotions as human beings. Moreover, the research design will be limited on the drawing style, basic shapes, body proportions, as well as hair and eye colors that will be used on the characters. Data collection for this qualitative research was done by literature reviews, on-site observations, observations on animation films, and surveys about the characters’ appearances to be used during the character designing process. By doing this research, the writer wants to create the cat family corresponding to the story plot and can attract people’s sympathy with the characters’ characterizations.

A three-year programme to eradicate Feral Cats Felis catus from the island of Baltra in the Galapagos archipelago achieved good results by initially poisoning with sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080) then trapping or shooting the remaining cats. The poisoning campaign removed 90% of the cats, its success being attributable to pre-baiting with unpolsoned baits to accustom cats to eating baits and placing enough baits to ensure that all cats encountered several baits within their home range. This, together with the use of metaclopromide (Pileran) as an anti-emetic, overcame a problem associated with poor retention of 1080 in thawed fish baits that limited the dose available to 1 mg 1080/bait, a quality insufficient to kill large cats. Removal of the remaining cats was delayed by a weather-induced irruption of Black Rats Rattus rattus and House Mice Mus musculus that enabled recruitment of kittens in 2002, but made cats more susceptible to trapping and shooting in 2003 when rodent populations collapsed. Since July 2003 no sign of a cat has been detected on Baltra despite extensive searching and monitoring throughout 2004. As cat abundance has decreased there have been more locally-bred Juvenile iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) seen during annual censuses. However, such recruitment may reflect the increasing maturity and higher fecundity of iguanas repatriated from 1991 onwards rather than being a direct result of reduced cat predation alone. More time is necessary to determine the benefits of reduced cat predation on the Iguana population.

Background:The group of the most common monogenic auto-inflammatory diseases (mAIDs) includes FMF, TRAPS, HIDS, CAPS. Descriptions of these diseases are widely presented in the literature, but they are not well covered among adults. MAIDs in the adult rheumatological practice are found: 1) in pts with the onset and diagnostics of the disease in their childhood; 2) in pts with juvenile onset, but diagnostics of the disease in their adulthood; 3) in pts with the onset of the disease in adulthood. Adult specialists, in contrast to pediatricians, are not very well aware of the clinical and laboratory picture, course, age characteristics, approaches to treatment, consequences of mAID, which leads to late diagnostics and untimely prescription of targeted therapy, development of complications (amyloidosis) and damage to organs, life quality impairment.Objectives:To characterize adult patients with mAIDs in the practice of a rheumatologist.Methods:Within the period from 2009 to 2020, 123 patients with mAIDs (FMF-53, CAPS-44, TRAPS-21, HIDS-5) were diagnosed, of which 50 were adults. All pts underwent a standard rheumatological examination, including ESR, CRP, ophthalmological and other instrumental examinations, audiogram, if required. Molecular genetic analysis of genes MEFV, TNFRSF1A, MVK, NLRP3 was performed in all pts. All but one patient with CAPS (CINCA / NOMID) showed feature genetic mutations.Results:The study included 50 pts aged 18 to 66 years, 35 women, 15 men. The age of onset was from 0 to 53 years, in 88% of cases the onset of the disease was noted in childhood, 6 pts debuted at the age over 18 years (4 with FMF - 23-35 years; 2 CAPS - 51 and 53 years). As of the time of inclusion into the study, the duration of the disease ranged from 6 months to 59 years. All patients had fever, skin rashes were present in the majority (72%) of pts with CAPS (urticaria), TRAPS (erythematous and anulyariform) and HIDS (spotted), in half of pts with FMF (erysipeloid erythema). Articular manifestations were present in the majority of pts (80%), oligoarthritis in 38%, mainly in pts with CAPS (35%) and FMF (47.8%). Polyarthritis occurred in 18% of pts. Ophthalmic changes (32%) in the form of conjunctivitis and/or uveitis were more common in patients with CAPS (65%), sensorineural deafness only in pts with CAPS (40%), stomatitis in 16% in pts, more often in case of CAPS (35%). Family history is aggravated in almost half of pts. All pts showed an increase in ESR and CRP performance. Colchicine treatment was used mainly in patients with FMF. Glucocorticoids (GC) and biological agents (IL-1 inhibitors) were more often received by pts with CAPS (55% and 60%).Table 1.Clinical and demographic characteristics of adult patients with mAIDsAIDsFMF (23)CAPS (20)TRAPS (5)HIDS (2)N (%)Fever23(100)20 (100)5 (100)2 (100)50 (100)Rash11(47,8)18 (90)5 (100)2 (100)36 (72)Joints17 (73,9)16 (80)5 (100)2 (100)40(80)eye symptoms1(4,3)13 (65)2 (40)-16(32)Sensorineural hearing loss-8 (40)--Family history11(47,8)8 (40)3 (60)-22 (44)Colchicine2312-26 (52)Steroids3113219 (38)Biological therapy5123121 (42)Etanercept2-1-3 (6)Adalimumab11--2 (4)Tocilizumab12-14 (8)Canakinumab172-10 (20)Anakinra15--6 (12)Conclusion:The study of the peculiarities of the course of mAIDs in adults, increase in the awareness of adult rheumatologists about these diseases will improve and speed up diagnostics, develop approaches to treatment and management algorithms in order to improve the prognosis and quality of patients’ life.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Snappers of the family Lutjanidae contain several of the most important reef-fishery species in the tropical western Atlantic. Despite their importance, substantial gaps exist for both systematic and ecological information, especially for the southwestern Atlantic. Recent collecting efforts along the coast of Brazil have resulted in the discovery of many new reef-fish species, including commercially important parrotfishes (Scaridae) and grunts (Haemulidae). Based on field collecting, museum specimens, and literature records, we describe a new species of snapper, Lutjanus alexandrei, which is apparently endemic to the Brazilian coast. The newly settled and early juvenile life stages are also described. This species is common in many Brazilian reef and coastal estuarine systems where it has been often misidentified as the gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus, or the schoolmaster, L. apodus. Identification of the new species cast doubt on prior distributional assumptions about the southern ranges of L. griseus and L. apodus, and subsequent field and museum work confirmed that those species are not reliably recorded in Brazil. The taxonomic status of two Brazilian species previously referred to Lutjanus, Bodianus aya and Genyoroge canina, is reviewed to determine the number of valid Lutjanus species occurring in Brazil. Twelve species of Lutjanus are now recognized in the western Atlantic, eight of which occur in Brazil (one endemic). A key for the identification of all western Atlantic Lutjanus species and their known distributional ranges is also provided.

Objectives Assessment of heart size in kittens is important, and there is a need for reference intervals (RIs) to prevent misinterpretation of cardiomegaly in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to generate RIs for echocardiographic and radiographic quantification of cardiac size in healthy kittens. Methods In total, 88 kittens aged 6–16 weeks were enrolled in this study. Physical examination, radiographic and echocardiographic evaluations were performed without sedation. Thoracic radiographs and echocardiographic images were measured to establish RIs for vertebral heart score (VHS), cardiac thoracic ratio (CTR) and multiple echocardiographic variables. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was measured. Statistical correlations between echocardiographic parameters and age, body weight and sex were all evaluated and RIs were generated. Results Low-grade heart murmurs were appreciated in 26/88 kittens (29.5%). Kittens had a median VHS of 9.5 vertebrae (95% RI 8.0–10.9) and a median CTR of 67.2% (95% RI 54.4–79.8%). Measured NT-proBNP levels were comparable to healthy adult cats with a median of 31 pmol/l (upper reference limit 75 pmol/l). Multiple moderate-to-strong correlations between body weight and age with various echocardiographic parameters were observed and allometric scaling was performed for body weight. RIs for echocardiographic parameters were generated based on patient weight using allometric scaling formulas. Tricuspid valve regurgitation was a common finding and was present in 37.5% (n = 33) of the kittens. Conclusions and relevance This study establishes RIs for thoracic radiograph assessment, echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers in kittens, which fills a critical gap in the veterinary literature. The VHS reported in this study is higher than previously reported for adult cats.